The function of self-injurious behavior (SIB) by an adult with severe mental retardation was analyzed via descriptive and experimental analysis methodologies. Results indicated that SIB occurred more often when the participant was presented with nonpreferred novel activities. Intervention resulted in the use of negation to terminate the…

A reevaluation of data from Berkman and Meyer (1988), a study supporting the effectiveness of positive-oriented programing approaches with persons with mental retardation, suggests that medication, especially the introduction of Thorazine (with subsequent increases of dosage), may have been related to reductions in the client's self-injurious…

This article describes the communication characteristics and needs of adults with severe mental retardation and discusses a transactional approach to intervention for adults who do not communicate symbolically in any mode. The approach promotes communication skill development by considering communicative acts as critical antecedent and consequent…

A structured coaching strategy was effectively used with three day-care teachers, resulting in (1) substantial increases in delivery of behavioral support of social interactions of children with developmental disabilities; and (2) marked increases in positive interactions of socially withdrawn children. Long-term maintenance effects were also…

Studies a special education classroom in a rural elementary school. After learning to check spelling with a dictionary, 11 special education students were required to decrease spelling errors by 20 percent per week to attend storytelling sessions. Ten students met the requirement during two treatment weeks and maintained reduced error rates at…

Sixteen studies of self-management with students who have behavioral disorders are reviewed. Procedures involving self-instruction, self-evaluation, self-recording, and combinations are examined. Results indicate the effectiveness of the procedures in promoting social and academic behaviors and the need to systematically program for…

Assessed changes in college student behavior regarding alcohol consumption before/after implementation of statewide legislative and campuswide administrative actions to cope with alcohol abuse. Findings showed no major changes in responsible alcohol-related behaviors. Factor analysis of behaviors and consequences, however, led to groupings of…

Twenty-seven parents with sexually abused children evaluated the effectiveness of a parent support group. Results indicated significant decreases in some of the children's dysfunctional behaviors, increased parental perception of coping skills and confidence as parents, but no change in parents' stress levels. (Author/JDD)

This study examined 40 articles published in the "American Journal on Mental Retardation" or the "Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps" (JASH) from 1976-78 and 1986-88. Both journals published low numbers of articles with ecological validity in the late 1970s, but JASH subsequently increased…

Implemented 6-week parent-child-school contract program with parents of 12 elementary school students and compared behavior of those 12 students to that of 12 matched controls. Written contracts prepared by parents and child stated target behaviors and predetermined reward or privilege. Rate of weekly goal completion for experimental students was…

In this case study, music was applied noncontingently and contingently across four settings with an adolescent male with autism, to reduce aberrant, repetitive vocalizations. The intervention was associated with dramatic reductions in the primary aberrant behavior and reductions in two other aberrant behaviors. Task performance was differentially…

Reports on a 3-year study of 855 adults who quantified reasons for choosing 1 conflicting behavior with another. Finds that, when the reasons to do something are roughly equal to the reasons against doing it, extraneous effects from the participants "life-world" often interfere as moral temptations. (CFR)

This paper, in French, describes possible links between moral discussion, moral judgment, moral action, and moral atmosphere in a readaptation unit for male adolescent delinquents in which the Just Community Approach was used. Results showed an improvement in individual moral judgment and decreased frequency of misbehaviors after group…

Describes one elementary school's school-wide effort to design and implement strategies for school improvement in discipline, community relations, and academic performance. Children are taught a simple three-step method for dealing with conflict. Referrals to the timeout room and discipline referrals for serious behavior infractions have been…

A study investigated effects of classwide peer tutoring (CWPT) on classroom behavior and academic performance of 18 students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). CWPT led to improvements in performance in math or spelling for 50% of students with ADHD, along with reductions in off-task behavior for most participants. (Author/CR)